Improvement in revolving-cylinder engines



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im 1. ALLoN'As. & WILLIAM lBAUMAN.

Steaml Engine.

No. 118,503. Patented Aug. 29,1871.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IMPROVEMENT IN REVOLVlNG-CVLINDER ENGINES.

Specication forming part of Letters Patent No. 118,503, dated August 29,1871.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOSEPH ALLONAS and WILLIAM BAUMAN, both of Manseld,county of Richland, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Revolving-CyL inder Engines, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to theaccompanying' drawing making part of this specification, in which-Figure lis a perspective view of our improved engine with a portion ofthe inclosing-shell or drum broken away. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectiontaken longitudinally of the axis upon which it is mounted. Fig. 3 is atransverse section on line w y, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detached view of thecollar in which the induction and eduction-ports or ways are formed andFig. 5 is one of the supporting-standards. v

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all thefigures.

The invention relates to that class of steamengines ordinarily known asrevolving-cylinder engines; and consists in certain novel features ofconstruction and arrangement, which will be fullyv explainedhereinafter.

In the drawing, A A1 A2 is a shell or drum, 011e head, A2, of which isremovable at will, and is secured to the body A and the stationary headby means of bolts a or equivalent devices. B Bl are stub-axles or shaftsupon which the drum is mounted in standards C C', these standards beingsecured to a bedplate, D, or other suitable foundation. Axle B isrigidly attached centrally to the drum and turns with it. Shaft B is notattached to the drum, but is held fast in standard C by a set-screw, c,and, projecting through the head A2, serves as a support for that sideof the drum. The inner end of shaft B is provided with a crank-arm, b,for a purpose which will soon be explained. E is a steam-cylinder,similar in its construction to those in general use in reciprocating oroscillating engines, and arranged centrally within the drum. El is apiston, working' in cylinder E. E2 is a piston-rod; e5, a stuifing-box;e4, a cross-head; and e2, a pitman, connected at one end with cross-heade4, and at the other with crank-arm b. e e1 are steam-ways or throats ineach end of the cylinder. (See Fig. 2.) F F are ways which thecross-head traverses, said ways being supported upon posts F', theybeing in turn secured to the inner face of head A1 by suitable devices.Cylinder E is formed in one piece with or rigidly attached to a plate,Gr, by means of which it (the cylinder) is secured to the drum, and forthe purpose of effectually maintaining said cylinder in proper position,we provide plate G or the cylinder with a boss or hub, g, which iitsinto a corresponding recess in head A1, as shown in Fig. 2, care beingtaken to so locate the cylinder that its center shall be coincident withthe axis of shafts B B". H is the valve, circular in form, and attachedto the head '.A, with its center of rotation coincident with that of thedrum and cylinder. The valve is provided with two steam-ways or throats,h 71/, placed diametrically opposite to each other, and connect with andforming continuations of throats e el, their outer openings being on theperiphery of the valve. In Fig. 2 the shaft B is represented as beingmade in one piece with valve H, but in practice we may prefer to makethe valve separate and run the shaft through it. I is the valve-collar,shown detached in Fig. 4. It is provided with an induction-pipe, I1, andan eductionpipe, I2. These pipes communicate respectively with aninduction-port, il, and an ednction-port, i2, form ed in the inner sideof the collar. Inductionport il and its connection with pipe I1 areplainly shown in Fig. 4, both of the ports and pipes being shown insection in Fig. 3. Collar I is divided at its lower side and united bymeans of screw i, which engages with lugs formed upon the collar,thereby making the collar adjustable. rIhe ports do not extend entirelyaround the interior of the ring, but are divided by blanks, as shownplainly at i3, Fig. 4, the blank at one side (in this instance at thetop) being equal in length to the length of the throats -in the valve;but, when preferred, the blank i3 at the opposite side may be made ofgreater length in order that it may act as a cut-off, as will beexplained. rIhe. collar is provided upon each side with grooves i5 forthe reception of a suitable packing to make the joints steam-tight. (SeeFig. 2.) K is a plate or cap covering the outer face of valve H andoverlapping collar I for the purpose of securing the collar in place,the cap being fastened to the valve by screws. L is a yoke-piece orbracket mounted upon standard B, and provid ed with two inwardly-projectin g spurs, l, which engage with sockets i in collar I and prevent it(the collar) om turning with the drum when the engine is in motion. M,Fig. 2, is a counterpoise, placed in the shell to counterbalance theWeight of the ways F F.

In the drawing, the engine is shown in two positions. In Fig. 3 it isshown on a dead-center, and it will bel seen by an inspection of thedrawing that the mouth of throat e L is fully covered by the blankbetween the ports in the collar.

If, now, the drum be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow inFigs. l and 3 steam will be admitted to the cylinder at the front orstuffing-box end, and as the piston is driven backward a rotary motiondsimparted to the Ydrum through pitman e2, as will be readily understoodby reference to the drawing. At the same time that steam is given to thefront end of the cylinder, throat e1 lL is presented to eduction-porti2, so that the air or steam contained in the cylinder may escape, theexhaust taking place until throat el h is covered by blank 114, theposition of the parts now being just the reverse of that shown in Fig.3, when a slight advance of the engine will admit steam through throate1 h to the rear end of the cylinder, and thus complete the revolutionof the drum. The length of the eduction-port is such that exhaust takesplac during the entire stroke of the piston in either direction, but theinduction-port is somewhat shorter, the blank at the lower side ofcollar. I being the longer, (as has been stated above,) so that theengine takes steam only during a portion of the stroke, using theexpansive force of the steam during the remainder.

It will be evident that the point at which steam is admitted through thevalve I must remain uniform as regards the rotation of the drum, butthat the point at which the engine passes its dead-center may be variedby changing the position of crank-arm b,- therefore, thepoint at whichthe steam is made effective upon the piston, or, in other words, thelead,7 may be regulated at will, and, at the same time, the point atwhich the steam is cut off is determined.

Having now described our invention, what we claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In combination with the drum, the cylinder E, arranged centrallywithin the drum and secured thereto by means of plate G and hub or bossg, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the revolving drum, the shafts B B', cylinder E,crank-arm b, and connecting devices, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the drum and cylinder, the circular valve H,collar I provided with ports l i2, and the bracket L, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands this 12th day ofMay, 1871.

JOSEPH ALLONAS.

Witnesses: WILLIAM BAUMAN.

V. GUTZWILER, Jr., R. P. McCRoRY.

